Laravel Middleware Tutorial: What It Is and How to Use It

Learn what Laravel middleware is and how to use it — built in middleware, creating custom middleware, and applying it to routes.

Middleware acts as a filter for HTTP requests entering your application. It runs before (or after) a request reaches your controller, making it perfect for tasks like authentication checks, logging, or blocking certain users. What is Middleware, Really? Think of middleware as a series of checkpoints a request must pass through before reaching its final destination (your controller). Each checkpoint can: Allow the request to continue Modify the request Reject the request entirely (e.g., redirect to login) Built in Middleware You've Already Used Middleware Purpose auth Blocks access unless the user is logged in guest Blocks access if the user IS logged in (used on login/register pages) verified Requires a verified email address throttle Rate limits requests (prevents abuse) Example: Route::get('/dashboard', function () { return view('dashboard'); }) >middleware('auth'); Creating Cust...

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